KnP Training and Lessons

08/20/2026

It is a blessing and privilege to love a horse.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BnswG9e6A/

07/31/2026

Your placement is crucial in finding forward motion.
https://www.facebook.com/share/14qUEPU9EQ8/

07/30/2026

Great information on checking on dehydration.

07/23/2026

True Story ❤️
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/195B7HFiE9/

Just to clarify, not all pros are trainers. There are a fair number of people, hanging out their shingles, going by the moniker, who will gladly take your money in exchange for somehow dealing with your horse.

In the industry, 'professional' means only that money is paid for a service. It does not necessarily follow that the job will be well and thoroughly done. So, a warning. You'll need to do your homework.

I will post any number of stories, or answer a horsemanship question, by recommending that you seek the help of a professional. The sheer number of you who recoil in horror, by sharing that your horses ‘were ruined by going to a trainer’! No.

Your horse wasn’t sent to a trainer.

Your horse, unfortunately, was sent to a person who thought they were ready for great responsibility… and they weren’t. A caricature who has somehow made it this far by convincing trusting and unknowing people that he, or she, is knowledgeable and caring enough to replace a horse's natural fear and ignorance with calm doing.

There is a great deal of misunderstanding about the word ‘trainer’, itself. In the case of starting a c**t or bringing along any horse to a higher level of performance, you are not looking for a coach or a riding teacher. In some circles, these terms are interchangeable but from the horse’s standpoint they are not.

A trainer is someone who makes his, or her, living by ethically creating safe and uncomplicated horses. By replacing fear and doubt with confidence and know-how.

How do you find a reputable trainer? It’s quite simple, really. You ask around. You get references. You walk up to someone who is riding a wonderfully straightforward young, green horse and you ask , “Who started your horse, if you don’t mind my asking? He, or she, has done a great job!”

This is not necessarily the pro winning in your sport of choice, nor the one feeding us rock ‘n’ roll reels on Instagram every day.

Bottomline, as professionals, the horses we make are our calling cards. Not the people who currently love what we’re doing, nor the people who no longer have a kind word to say about us and don’t mind loudly saying so. I will suggest that a pro who has a really divided group of followers and naysayers, or a lot of drama about them, is probably best avoided.

The trainer who will do a genuinely thorough and positive job with your horse will likely have quite a wait list. Nor will he, or she, be your cheapest option. Maybe, read this little bit, again.

Trust that there are incredibly kind and devoted trainers around us! They may not be household names. They may not be competing at the top of their sport, or maintaining much of a social media presence. It’s doubtful they’ll boast a rollcall of paid endorsers. What they WILL be is quiet, matter-of-fact, effective horse(wo)men, day in and out.

I’m going to mention something else, too. It is grossly unfair of us, as clients, to expect miracles from someone who is now second, third or fourth in line, to fix a troubled or problem horse. People will do that to a trainer, all the time. If you’ve got a horse who needs serious building or repair, he deserves to go straight to the best person you can find, without first messing about with wild card options.

Both the horse and the trainer deserve your honesty, too, when you're telling the horse's story. Any worthy trainer will soon find out, if your carefully-selected words don't add up.

Good trainers are good people. They are not going to give you a damaged horse in exchange for your money. They will also, most likely, be willing to teach you on your horse before you are expected to make a go of it on your own. They will expect you to continue riding your horse when you bring it home, a different scenario from turning it out, unhandled.... all the while, telling others that So-and-so was supposed to have trained your horse but it is still not safe to ride.

Good trainers will also be forthright enough to tell you something that you don't necessarily want to hear. They will firmly tell you when you're wasting their time and your money, or when you're trying to ride a horse that you probably shouldn't be trying to ride.

And so, like all agreements between two people, there is a responsibility by both parties to be open and honest with one another. The joint aim should be in bettering the life and future opportunities for this one particular horse!

I have always found that the truly good professionals build us up. They deal in truths, gaining no satisfaction in breaking down, ruining, or ripping off.

07/01/2026

Are you prepared? Free webinar alert!
https://www.facebook.com/share/1CBHXvCLjy/

06/08/2026

Good information on the screw worm invasion.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JVND5JovM/

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has provided an important update on New World Screwworm which has been detected in a bovine in Zavala County, Texas. Read the full press release here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/usda-confirms-presence-new-world-screwworm-united-states

General information about New World Screwworm (NWS) can be found in the text below and in the attached infographic.

The adult screwworm fly is about the size of a common housefly (or slightly larger), with orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body, and three dark stripes along its back. It gets its name from the behavior of its larvae (maggots) as they burrow (screw) into the wound, feeding as they go. The maggots (larvae) cause extensive damage by tearing at the hosts’ tissue with sharp mouth hooks. The wound can quickly become enlarged and deeper as more maggots hatch and feed on living tissue.

Because they feed on live flesh, NWS maggots may burrow deep into wounds or openings, while other species of maggots may appear around the outer surface of the wound. In addition, even the smallest wounds have the potential to attract flies, so it is imperative that you keep a close eye on your animals for any signs of wounds.

Lastly, NWS infestations are a reportable disease! Immediately report any suspicious wounds, maggots, or infestations to a local accredited veterinarian, your State Animal Health Official, or a USDA veterinarian.

For more information, reference this resource from the U.S. Department of Agriculture: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/animal-health/livestock-and-poultry-disease/stop-screwworm

01/01/2026

Happy New Year! https://www.facebook.com/share/17ewEbqVbG/

🐎 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 “𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞”

With all this excitement surrounding Year of the Horse, I found myself diving into the Chinese zodiac, also known as the lunar calendar - everything from how it started to what it represents. Here is what I found!

The first thing I want to note is that while the Gregorian calendar marks the new year on January 1, the Lunar New Year, associated with the Chinese zodiac, follows the second new moon after the winter solstice. So this year, the Year of the Fire Horse doesn’t officially begin until February 17, 2026.

The 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac closely follows the orbit of Jupiter, which takes just under twelve years to complete a full revolution around the sun. Ancient Chinese astronomers tracked this “Year Star” to mark long stretches of time, creating a calendar system that was predictable, observable, and practical. Associating each year with an animal made this system accessible across social classes and literacy levels - bringing astronomy, agriculture, and storytelling into everyday life.

The animals of the zodiac were chosen because of their roles in human society. Later tradition describes a race called by the Jade Emperor that determined which animals were included and their order. The animal are used in the Chinese zodiac in this order with the following traits associated with them:

🐀 𝐑𝐚𝐭 - Survival and adaptability. Thrived alongside human settlements, symbolizing intelligence and the ability to navigate scarcity and change.
🐂 𝐎𝐱 - Labor and reliability. Powered agriculture, representing endurance, consistency, and collective stability.
🐅 𝐓𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫 - Power and protection. A symbol of courage, authority, and defense.
🐇 𝐑𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐭 - Caution and sensitivity. Represented awareness, timing, and restraint.
🐉 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧 - Authority and natural forces. In Chinese tradition, symbolized balance, rain, and imperial power.
🐍 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐞 - Strategy and wisdom. Associated with patience, observation, and deliberate action.
🐎 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 - Momentum, independence, and the freedom to pursue purposeful work. Enabled trade, warfare, communication, and expansion.
🐐 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐭 (𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐩) - Harmony and cooperation. Linked to social balance and shared responsibility.
🐒 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐲 - Innovation and problem-solving. Represented adaptability in complex systems.
🐓 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 - Order and vigilance. A marker of routine, responsibility, and timekeeping.
🐕 𝐃𝐨𝐠 - Loyalty and protection. Reflected trust, companionship, and social bonds.
🐖 𝐏𝐢𝐠 - Sustenance and completion. Symbolized nourishment, abundance, and the close of a cycle.

In addition to the cycle of animals, there is also a corresponding system of elements: metal, water, wood, fire, and earth.. In the Chinese zodiac, each element lasts for two consecutive years and can be identified by the final digit of the year.

🪨 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥: years ending in 0 and 1
Represents structure, discipline, and refinement. Metal years tend to emphasize focus, resilience, boundaries, and determination.

💧 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫: years ending in 2 and 3
Reflects rest, introspection, and adaptability. Water years emphasize intuition, emotional depth, wisdom, and strategic movement rather than force.

🪾 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝: years ending in 4 and 5
Marks growth and beginnings. Wood years are linked to creativity, expansion, flexibility, and forward momentum - often times of new ideas and development.

🔥 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞: years ending in 6 and 7
Symbolizes peak energy and transformation. Fire years are associated with passion, visibility, bold action, and rapid change.

🌎 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡: years ending in 8 and 9
Acts as a stabilizing phase between elements, associated with grounding, balance, and transition. In the zodiac, Earth years emphasize practicality, reliability, and steady progress.

This cycle of elements intersects with the 12 zodiac signs, creating specific element–animal combinations in a 60-year cycle.

Traditionally, the Year of the Horse is associated with action, direction, and forward motion. Combined with fire, this year really emphasizes initiative and transformation. This theme makes it a perfect moment to ask yourself: where do you want momentum in your life? That might mean pursuing a professional goal, returning to work that feels meaningful, or finally moving toward something you are passionate about. Whatever that looks like for you, I hope 2026 brings purposeful movement and progress worth carrying forward!

However, beyond shaping the themes of the year ahead, each animal–element combination is also believed to reflect the traits of those born that year.

Now I’m curious - what’s your animal–element combination, and do you think it truly reflects your personality? Share below!👇

Cheers,
Dr. DeBoer

12/28/2025

Great information!

12/04/2025

😁😁😁😁https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CaH41T8YZ/